Author: Manouk Vasilian

Asbarez: Yerevan’s Vague Response to Presence of Turkish Forces Near Syunik Border

Manouk Vasilian
by asbarez-staff

 

 June 15, 2021

 

in Armenia, Artsakh


Azerbaijani forces have entered the Sev Lidj (Black Lake) region of Syunik

Armenia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday issued a vague response to inquires about the presence of Turkish special forces near the Sev Lidj (Black Lake) region of Syunik Province, where Azerbaijani forces, after breaching Armenia’s border, have advance their positions.

In a statement, the defense ministry tacitly acknowledged the presence of Turkish forces, but clarified that they are on the Azerbaijani side of the border, which until November was the Mekhakavan (Jebrail) region of Artsakh that was surrendered to Baku as a result of the November 9 agreement signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan.

“The Republic of Armenia, specifically the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, has repeatedly raised the issue that Turkish Armed Forces are heavily involved in the training, instruction and even management processes of the Azerbaijani army,” the defense ministry said in its statement.

“The clearest evidence of this was the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, in which the Turkish armed forces were directly involved. The presence of Turkish troops in the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has long been a fact, confirmed, including by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia,” the statement said.

“From this point of view, the accusations that the Armenian Ministry of Defense is hiding facts related to the presence of Turkish troops in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are simply baseless. As for the photo of the soldier with the Turkish emblem, it was taken in the non-Armenian part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the movement of the military was controlled by the Armenia’s Armed Forces, and there is no question of ‘deployment of a Turkish army unit’ in the area,” the Defense Ministry stated.

New Members Join ARF in Western U.S.

Manouk Vasilian
by Contributor

 

 June 15, 2021

 

in Commentary, Latest, News

A commitment ceremony was held on Friday, June 11 at Krikor and Mariam Karamanoukian Glendale Youth Center, where six novices, having completed an educational program, joined the ranks of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

The ceremony began with ARF Western U.S. Education committee member Lusine Harutyunyan introducing the the novitiates inviting long-time ARF member and the director of the Pilvajian Pre-School Vehik Gabrielian to officiated the ceremony.

In her remarks, Gabrielian expressed hope that the new members will take lessons from the selfless sacrifice of ARF founders Kristapor, Rosdom and Zavarian always remembering to demonstrate the will, the intelligence and a conscience, all of which embody the moral, human and national aspects of an ARF member.

Gabrielian then referred to a portion of the ARF Program, which states: “The Armenian Revolutionary Federation believes that the ideal of socialism cannot be realized without democracy and democracy lacks and become limited without socialism.” Hence, she said, the concepts of democracy and socialism must become assimilated.

She referred to the current difficult situation facing the homeland and added that as new ARF members “you have the responsibility to be and work with an open mind, be discerning and balanced.”

Gabrielian told the new members to not blindly follow and exercise their rights to raise questions about aspects that they might believe do not correspond with the ARF’s principles and by-laws. She explained that the ARF’s organizational success has hinged on every member’s right to a voice and vote, as well as its decentralized structure.

Our aim and responsibility must be to advance the strengthening of our homeland and state at all costs, in order to realize the will and aspirations of the Armenian people,” said Gabrielian who also quoted President John F. Kennedy, who had said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

ARF Western U.S. Central Committee chair Dr. Carmen Ohanian welcomed the new members, adding that during the novitiate program they were introduced to the ARF’s ideology and learned that the organization’s—and the ARF member’s—sole purpose was in service to the Armenian people and the Armenian Nation.

Following the ceremony, the ARF Western U.S. Central Committee hosted a gathering to celebrate the new members attended by ARF members from various chapters of the region as well as the new members’ families and friends.

Robert Kocharyan meets with former PM Karen Karapetyan

Manouk Vasilian
Panorama, Armenia
June 15 2021

Armenia's ex-President, the leader of "Armenia" bloc Robert Kocharyan had a meeting with Armenia's former PM Karen Karapetyan. The meeting took place at the central office of the bloc, according to the report by the press service 'Armenia' alliance. During the meeting, Kocharyan and Karapetyan discussed number of programmes and projects to be implemented in the future, the source said. 

To remind, Karen Karapetyan on Monday issue a statement, expressing his support to Robert Kocharyan in the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

Caucasian Knot | Erdogan and Aliev sign agreement on military help and Zangezur Corridor

Manouk Vasilian
The Caucasian Knot, EU
June 16 2021

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The Presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan have signed the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations, which includes an agreement on mutual military help and stipulates the creation of the Zangezur transport corridor to Nakhichevan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived from Fizuli to Shusha (the Armenian name is Shushi) along the highway built after the aggravation of the Karabakh conflict in the fall of 2020. Azerbaijani analysts have treated this visit a demonstration of Turkey's status as a guarantor of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

Azerbaijan believes that the creation of the Zangezur Corridor is provided for by the agreements on the termination of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, Armenia, through whose territory the corridor should pass, does not recognize this.

President Ilham Aliev has recalled the support that Turkey provided to Azerbaijan during the escalation of the conflict. In his opinion, this "prevented interference in the war."

According to Erdogan, Turkey intends to open its consulate in Shusha. He also announced his readiness to normalize relations with Armenia.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 15, 2021 at 05:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Orientalists dispute about Turkey's bonuses from supporting Azerbaijan in Karabakh, President of Turkey attends military parade in Baku, After Nagorno-Karabakh conflict aggravation, USA has questions to Turkey.

Author: Faik Medjid; Source: CK correspondent

Source:
© Caucasian Knot

Why Is Armenia Prosecuting a Yazidi Human Rights Activist?

Manouk Vasilian

Riham Darwish

Published June 16th, 2021 – 08:46 GMT

A criminal investigation against Sashik Sultanyan was launched last October. (yazidis.info)

Armenian-Yazidi human rights defender Sashik Sultanyan has been facing charges of "incitement," following a criminal investigation over a press interview in June 2020, in which he criticized government treatment of the Yazidi minority.

Also Read Armenian Coup? The Armed Forces Call on Premier Nikol Pashinyan to Resign

The prosecution of Sashik Sultanyan, who is facing trials in Armenia based on the statements he made during an interview last year, has urged Human Rights Watch to release a statement in which the organization called on the government of Armenia to drop charges against him and to abide by international laws that give every individual the right to express themselves.

Sultanyan, the chairperson of the 2018 Yezidi Center for Human Rights, had talked about different examples of discrimination his people live through in Armenia; saying that they are only underrepresented in government positions, but also lack the right to celebrate and develop their own culture, including their language which they cannot learn at schools. Sultanyan had also said that the Yazidi minority in Armenia lives "in fear."

Also Read Who Are Syrians Fighting With in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict? Both Sides, Some Argue

These statements had led the leader of the Veto Movement, a group often expressing hostile sentiments against human rights defenders, to file a complaint against Sultanyan. Last May, officers from the National Security Service confiscated several computers and telephones used by Sultanyan amid investigations. 

Human Rights Watch has called charges of "incitement" against Sashik Sultanyan "flawed," hoping that authorities drop the charges and grant members of minority groups the freedom to talk about the injustices they face in Armenia.

Europe to pay Armenia €3m to rebrand its ‘cognac’ | Eurasianet

Manouk Vasilian
EurasiaNet.org
Jun 11, 2021

The European Union will pay Armenia 3 million euros to rename its prize-winning grape-based spirits, which have traditionally been known as “cognac.”

Under European law, the term is a trademark and can only apply to drinks made from particular grapes grown in the Cognac region of southwestern France.

Armenia agreed to stop using the word “cognac” as part of a comprehensive partnership agreement that came into effect in March. Parliament passed the relevant provision on June 10, making the release of the funds possible, local media reported. How the money will be spent was not immediately clear.

Under the terms negotiated in 2017, Yerevan has until 2032 to phase out the word. In March officials told Brussels they had not yet decided which word to use, though the drink has been frequently marketed abroad as Armenian brandy.

Russians need not worry that their favorite Armenian tipple will undergo a makeover. The EU fine print allows for “cognac” to remain on labels in non-Latin letters. Russia – with which Armenia is in a free-trade bloc, the Eurasian Economic Union – is the biggest buyer of Armenian hard liquor exports, soaking up 84 percent in 2019, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Only about 3.5 percent is shipped to Europe.

Brandy/cognac accounted for 7.7 percent of all Armenia's exports last year.

The change may rub some Armenians the wrong way. An oft-heard boast is that the beverage produced at the Yerevan Brandy Factory, founded in the 19th century, uses a process imported directly from the French region of Cognac. Legend has it that Winston Churchill was a mighty big fan.

Abroad, the most well-known brand is Ararat, made by the Yerevan Brandy Company, which was bought by French booze giant Pernod-Ricard in the 1990s. At the time of writing, the company's English website the word cognac.

https://eurasianet.org/europe-to-pay-armenia-eu3m-to-rebrand-its-cognac

Freedom House calls on Armenian politicians to refrain from hate speech in election period

Manouk Vasilian
Public Radio of Armenia

Freedom House has expressed concern over the violent rhetoric used by Armenian politicians in the election period.

“These actions drive destructive polarization and hate speech as the country prepares for historic parliamentary elections,” Freedom House said in a Twitter post.

It also shared a statement by Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan who urged all political forces to refrain from any rhetoric related to hatred and violence.

Duduk player Arsen Petrosyan to introduce Armenian duduk to the world with "Hokin Janapar" album

Manouk Vasilian

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 10:30, 9 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. Despite being young, duduk player Arsen Petrosyan has managed to introduce the Armenian duduk to the whole world, performing Armenian folk and traditional songs that move both Armenians and foreigners.

To preserve and popularize the Armenian cultural heritage, the musician recently released the album "Hokin Janapar" (My Soul’s Journey), which includes 11 pieces from different eras of the Armenian cultural heritage.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, Arsen Petrosyan noted that "HokinJanapar" is his second solo album, which was created as a result of extensive work.

The musician received the album offer after his debut solo concert in London in 2019. “The idea of releasing an album was proposed by the prestigious British company ARC Music, which was very inspiring. We can say that it shows the success of the concert. We started the works in the summer of 2020. The CD includes works from the 18th century to the present day: Baghdasar Dpir, Tigran Mansuryan… These compositions emphasize the multi-genre content and peculiarities of Armenian music. We have recorded Armenian troubadour, spiritual, folk, and other music”, Petrosyan says.

The recording of the CD was made in Armenia. The process coincided with the 44-day-war in Artsakh, because of which both Arsen and the musicians accompanying him were very depressed, but spent hours in the studio trying to finish the work. The album was released in London.

"We realize that when a CD is released, it stays in history, preserves our cultural heritage, making it accessible not only to us but to the world. These factors make you more alert, you must pay attention to every detail”, the duduk player confesses.

Petrosyan thinks that the duduk has a beautiful voice and sound; naturally, it is often performed without any accompaniment, but other musical instruments, such as the second duduk, percussion, dhol, kanun, santur, and harp, make the sound of the duduk more beautiful.

Referring to the success of the album, the musician noted that it is already in the spotlight of the international media. The presentation of the album was held on the Spanish National Radio and received a great response. It was the leader in the number of downloads in April. The album was presented on various European radio stations, the musician made it public through interviews. Both websites and newspapers regularly cover the album, and the album has been in the top 20 on Transglobal World Music Chart for two months. The best specialists from different countries vote on that platform.

According to Arsen Petrosyan, the main goal of art is to present the state, nation, culture, and the duduk is the voice of Armenia. Petrosyan is happy and excited to be able to contribute to that.

The duduk player noted that he inherited his love for the instrument from his grandmother's father, who was a duduk master. “Folk music has always been loved and respected in my family. When my parents noticed that I was not indifferent to music, they took me to music school. At the age of six, I learned to play the shvi, then the duduk. It is a difficult path, but I have consciously chosen this path. I was 14 when I performed at a concert and then toured the United States and Canada. I was very excited to be back. At that time, it was already clear that it is a difficult path that I want to pass”, Arsen noted. He added that he is not broken by disappointments, he works hard, tries to look ahead; for that purpose, he will have a tour in France, Italy, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic in July. He may perform in Armenia, the audience of which he considers very demanding.

Arsen Petrosyan was born in 1994 in Charentsavan. Arsen is actively involved in international activities, following the advice of duduk master Jivan Gasparyan and his teacher Gevorg Dabaghyan. The musician has paved the way through various collaborations, working with legendary rock guitarist Steve Hackett (Genesis), Emirati composer Ihab Darwish, and oudist Omar Bashir among others.

Arsen Petrosyan has performed in Europe, North America, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Notable media appearances include those on Medici.tv, Mezzo TV, BR-KLASSIK, as well as BBC Persia among others.

Arsen Petrosyan's first solo album “Charentsavan: Music for Duduk” was published in 2015 in the USA and was a great success.

 

Interview by Angela Hambardzumyan

Armenia former President Sargsyan visits memorial chess tournament in Jermuk

Manouk Vasilian
News.am, Armenia
June 6 2021
(PHOTOS)
18:28, 06.06.2021

Third President Serzh Sargsyan, who is President of the Armenian Chess Federation, is visiting Jermuk town Sunday and watched the Stepan Avagyan memorial tournament, which started Friday and will end on June 14, the office of the Third President reported.

The world’s best young Armenian chess players are competing in this tournament.

Within the framework of his visit to Jermuk, Sargsyan is meeting also with members of the "I have the honor" bloc, which will run in the snap parliamentary elections on June 20, and the local residents.

Serzh Sargsyan: No measures being taken to bring back captured Armenian soldiers

Manouk Vasilian
Panorama, Armenia
June 2 2021

"I am bonded with the army, I have always stood with the army, but when this army is humiliated, shouldn't I be ashamed?” third President of Armenia, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting with supporters of the I Have the Honor bloc in the town of Masis on Tuesday.

“Shouldn't I be ashamed when Azeris invade our territory, capture our soldiers and the commander has no right to take a step, while his boss does nothing? This devil, this capitulator takes no action. Don’t I understand the state of mind of this commander? Of course I do, but since their hands are tied, what should we do other than being ashamed? This has to stop,” he said.

The former president stressed that for 30 years the Azerbaijanis did not dare to take any action, whereas now they take soldiers prisoner from Armenian territory and no measures are being taken to bring them back.

“And the leader shamelessly says, ‘Should we engage in fighting when they have just occupied 30% of Black Lake [Sev Lich]?” They led our army to a defeat and a rout. It is obvious that our army was not defeated,” Sargsyan said, blaming the current authorities for spoiling their ties with Russia.

“Russia would have continued to provide them with military and technical assistance, that is, it would have provided a huge amount of weapons to them without a single penny, as it was during our rule,” Sargsyan said.

According to him, the combat readiness of the army depends not only on weapons, but also on soldiers with weapon master skills, stressing the need to focus on efforts towards making the troops more combat-ready.